System and method for powering a device

ABSTRACT

A system for powering a device is disclosed. The system includes at least one internal battery located in a device, at least one external battery connected to the device, and a master controller configured to connect either the at least one internal battery or the at least one external battery to a power bus to power the device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/376,005, filed Dec. 12, 2016, and entitled System and Method forPowering a Device, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,139,655, issued Oct. 5, 2021(Attorney Docket No. U36), which is a continuation of U.S. applicationSer. No. 13/566,636, filed Aug. 3, 2012, and entitled System and Methodfor Powering a Device, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,520,720, issued Dec. 13, 2016(Attorney Docket No. J53), which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/604,950, filed Feb. 29, 2012, andentitled Arm Prosthetic Device (Attorney Docket No. J35), which are eachhereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST

This invention was made with Government support under Contract NumberW911NF-09-C-0035 awarded by the U. S. Army RDECOM ACQ CTR. TheGovernment has certain rights in the invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present development relates to devices and, more particularly, topowered devices. More particularly, the development relates to methodsand systems for powering devices.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Existing powered devices, including portable powered devices, requiredpower. Accordingly, there is a need for systems and methods for poweringa device.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a system forpowering a device is disclosed. The system includes at least oneinternal battery located in a device, at least one external batteryconnected to the device, and a master controller configured to connecteither the at least one internal battery or the at least one externalbattery to a power bus to power the device.

Some embodiments of this aspect of the present invention include one ormore of the following, wherein the system further includes wherein theat least one external battery further includes a keying feature. Whereinthe system further includes a battery charger for charging the at leastone external battery.

Wherein the battery charger is configured to accommodate at least twoexternal batteries. Wherein the system includes at least two externalbatteries. Wherein the external batteries include built-in circuits formeasuring state-of-charge. Wherein the system further includes a holsterconfigured to accept and secure the at least one external battery.Wherein the holster further includes a power button. Wherein the atleast one external battery powers the device. Wherein the at least oneinternal battery is rechargeable. Wherein the at least one externalbattery is rechargeable. Wherein the system further includes at leastone AC adapter. Wherein the AC adapter charges the internal battery.Wherein the master controller is configured to recharge the internalbattery using the at least one external battery. Wherein the systemfurther includes wherein the master controller is configured todetermine the capacity of the at least one internal battery, and whenthe capacity of the at least one internal battery is below a threshold,and determine whether to charge the internal battery using an AC adapteror from the at least one external battery. Wherein the master iscontroller is configured to determine when to switch from receivingpower from the internal battery to receiving power from the at least oneexternal battery. Wherein the master controller is configured todetermine the capacity of the internal battery, and when the capacity ofthe internal battery is below a threshold, determining whether to chargethe internal battery using an AC adapter or from the at least oneexternal battery. Wherein the master controller is configured todetermine the external battery has been disconnected from a holster, andswitch to use the internal battery to power the bus. Wherein the mastercontroller is configured to determine if an external battery isconnected to the system, and if an external battery is connected to thesystem, connecting the external battery to the power bus, anddisconnecting the internal battery from the power bus. Wherein themaster controller is configured to determine the external batteryremaining capacity is below a predetermined threshold, and command theinternal battery to switch to power the bus. Wherein the mastercontroller is configured to power the device using a first externalbattery, disconnect the first external battery from the device, connectan internal battery to a power bus to power the device, connecting an ACadapter to the device, charging the internal battery using the ACadapter, disconnecting the AC adapter from the device, connecting thefirst external battery to the device, and charging the internal batteryusing the first external battery. Wherein the master controller isconfigured to power the device using a first external battery,disconnect the first external battery from the device, connect aninternal battery to a power bus to power the device, connect an ACadapter to the device, and charge the internal battery using the ACadapter. Wherein the master controller is configured to power the deviceusing a first external battery, disconnect the first external batteryfrom the device, connect an internal battery to a power bus to power thedevice, connect a second external battery to the device, disconnect theinternal battery from the power bus, and connect the second externalbattery to the power bus. Wherein the master controller is configured topower the device using a first external battery, determine that thefirst external battery is disconnected from the device, and turn theinternal interface circuit on to power the device using an internalbattery. Wherein the master controller is configured to monitor thecapacity of an internal battery, determine the capacity of an externalbattery, determine whether the internal battery capacity is less than apredetermined threshold, and if the internal battery capacity is lessthan a predetermined threshold, and the external battery capacity ifabove a predetermined threshold, charging the internal battery using theexternal battery. Wherein the master controller is configured todetermine if an external battery is connected to the device, if not, themaster controller allowing the internal battery to power the bus, if anexternal battery is connected to the device, determine the capacity ofthe external battery, if the capacity exceeds a predetermined threshold,disconnecting the internal battery from powering the bus, and connectthe external battery to power the bus. Wherein the master controller isconfigured to determine if an external battery is connected to thedevice, if not, the master controller allowing the internal battery topower the bus, if an external battery is connected to the device,disconnect the internal battery from powering the bus and connect theexternal battery to power the bus.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method forpowering a device is disclosed. The method includes determining thetotal capacity of the installed batteries in a device; and if the totalcapacity is below a predetermined threshold, then alerting a user thatthe total capacity is below a threshold.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method forpowering a device is disclosed. The method includes determining if anexternal battery is connected to the device, if not, the mastercontroller allowing the internal battery to power the bus, if anexternal battery is connected to the device, disconnecting the internalbattery from powering the bus, and connecting the external battery topower the bus.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method forpowering a device is disclosed. The method includes determining if anexternal battery is connected to the device, if not, the mastercontroller allowing the internal battery to power the bus, if anexternal battery is connected to the device, determining the capacity ofthe external battery, if the capacity exceeds a predetermined threshold,disconnecting the internal battery from powering the bus, and connectingthe external battery to power the bus.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method forpowering a device is disclosed. The method includes monitoring thecapacity of an internal battery, determining the capacity of an externalbattery, determining whether the internal battery capacity is less thana predetermined threshold, and if the internal battery capacity is lessthan a predetermined threshold, and the external battery capacity ifabove a predetermined threshold, charging the internal battery using theexternal battery.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method forpowering a device is disclosed. The method includes determining anexternal battery has been disconnected from a holster, and themicrocontroller switching to use an internal battery of the device topower the bus.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method forpowering a device is disclosed. The method includes powering the deviceusing a first external battery, determining that the first externalbattery is disconnected from the device, and turning the internalinterface circuit on to power the device using an internal battery.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method forpowering a device is disclosed. The method includes powering the deviceusing a first external battery, disconnecting the first external batteryfrom the device, connecting an internal battery to a power bus to powerthe device, connecting a second external battery to the device,disconnecting the internal battery from the power bus, and connectingthe second external battery to the power bus.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method forpowering a device is disclosed. The method includes powering the deviceusing a first external battery, disconnecting the first external batteryfrom the device, connecting an internal battery to a power bus to powerthe device, connecting an AC adapter to the device, and charging theinternal battery using the AC adapter.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method forpowering a device is disclosed. The method includes powering the deviceusing a first external battery, disconnecting the first external batteryfrom the device, connecting an internal battery to a power bus to powerthe device, connecting an AC adapter to the device, charging theinternal battery using the AC adapter, disconnecting the AC adapter fromthe device, connecting the first external battery to the device; andcharging the internal battery using the first external battery.

According to some aspects of the present invention, a battery system isdisclosed. The system includes at least one electronic device having ahousing, at least one rechargeable internal battery located inside theelectronic device housing, and at least one external battery locatedoutside the electronic device housing, wherein the at least one externalbattery charges the at least one internal battery.

These aspects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive and otherfeatures, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read inconjunction with the appended claims and accompanying drawings.

The same compliance method is applied to the MRP drive, allowing it tostore elastic energy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will bebetter understood by reading the following detailed description, takentogether with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is one embodiments of a battery interface;

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of an external battery and one embodiment ofa holster;

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of a charger and one embodiment of twoexternal batteries;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of one embodiment of the battery system;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of one embodiment of the internal battery interface;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of one embodiment of the internal battery interface;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of one embodiment of the external battery interface;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of one embodiment of the external battery interface;and

FIG. 9 is a diagram of one embodiment of the external battery andinternal battery system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

In various embodiments, a system and method for battery charging isincluded. In various embodiments, a system may include at least oneinternal battery, and at least one external battery. However, in someembodiments, the system may include at least one external battery but nointernal battery. In still other embodiments, the various embodiments ofthe system may include one or more external batteries. In variousembodiments, the internal battery is located inside a device, which, insome embodiments, may include a prosthetic device. The at least oneinternal battery, in some embodiments, may not be readily accessibleand/or directly accessible by a user. For example, in some embodiments,the at least one internal battery may be located in the device such thatthe battery housing is waterproof and/or protected from the outerenvironment and therefore, not accessible unless a plate and/or abattery cap and or other is first removed. In various embodiments, theat least one internal battery may be a rechargeable battery andtherefore, in some embodiments, it may be desirable to recharge thebattery from an external source rather than removing thenot-readily-available internal battery to recharge the internal battery.In some embodiments, where the at least one internal battery may bereadily accessible, it may be desirable to recharge the internal batteryfrom at least one external source. In some embodiments, the at least oneexternal source may include, but is not limited to, one or more of thefollowing: at least one external battery and/or at least one AC adapter.In some embodiments, the at least one AC adapter may be a medical gradeAC adapter, for example, a 60 watt XP Power AC adapter, model numberAFM60, made by XP Power Limited, Singapore. In some embodiments, the ACadapter may be 24 VDC. However, in various embodiments, a different ACadapter or other adapter or outside charging device may be used. In someembodiments, the at least one AC adapter may be connected to the deviceto charge the at least one internal battery by connection to a chargingport. In some embodiments where the device is a prosthetic arm device,the charging port may be located anywhere on the device, including butnot limited to, on the forearm.

In some embodiments, the internal battery may be a 4S1P lithium-ionrechargeable 18650 cells battery for a nominal voltage of 14.8 VDChaving 2 amp hours of capacity. However, in various other embodiments,the internal battery may be a larger or smaller voltage with more orless capacity. In some embodiments, the at least one internal batterymay include a SMBus gas gauge IC and protection circuitry.

In some embodiments, the system may include no external batteries.However, in some embodiments, the system may include at least oneexternal battery. In some embodiments, the at least one external batterymay be used to power a device, for example, but not limited to, aprosthetic device. In some embodiments, the at least one externalbattery may be used to recharge an internal battery in a device. Forexample, in some embodiments, the at least one external battery may beused to recharge a non-removable internal battery in a device. In someembodiments, the at least one external battery may be a 4S2P lithium-ionrechargeable 18650 cells battery for a nominal voltage of 14.8 VDC and 5amp hours of capacity. In some embodiments, the at least one externalbattery may include a SMBus gas gauge IC and protection circuitry. Insome embodiments, the system may include one external battery and insome embodiments, the system may include two or more external batteries.In some embodiments, the at least one external battery may be worn by auser by attaching the external battery to a holster, a belt holster, apack or other apparatus to secure the external battery to the user. Insome embodiments, the external battery is connected to a device, forexample, but not limited to, a prosthetic device, by an electricconnector, for example, a cable.

In some embodiments where at least one external battery is used, a powerbutton may be located on the holster or other holder of the externalbattery. In an exemplary embodiment, the holster may be configured toinclude a pushbutton holster (e.g., in some embodiments, this embodimentmay be used when there is no internal battery) or a non-pushbuttonholster (e.g., in some embodiments, this embodiment may be used whenthere is at least one internal battery). In some embodiments where bothat least one internal battery and at least one external battery areincluded in the system, the internal battery includes an internalbattery interface. In these embodiments, software is common to both theinternal battery interface and the holster and configuration jumpers onthe board may be read by the software to determine the type of board.

In various embodiments, the system may include a device, including, butnot limited to, a medical device, e.g., a prosthetic device orprosthetic arm; at least one internal battery and at least one externalbattery. In some embodiment of this embodiment, the system may includeat least two external batteries. In some embodiments, all the batteriesmay include built-in circuits for measuring state-of-charge andprotection against faults. In some embodiments, one or more batteriesmay include built-in circuits for measuring state-of-charge andprotection against faults. In some embodiments, similar to other “smart”batteries, the batteries may communicate this information to the systemusing the System Management Bus (SMBus) hardware/software protocol. Insome embodiments, the at least one or at least two external batteriesare charged by an external battery charger.

In some embodiments, as discussed above, a holster may be includedwherein the holster accepts and secures the external battery. Referringnow also to FIG. 1, one embodiments of a battery interface, view intoholster or charger, is shown. In various embodiments, when one externalbattery is mounted in the holster, spring contacts in the holster mateto metal pads on the external battery, which interfaces the battery tothe device's, e.g., prosthetic arm's, power and communication busses.The external battery charger duplicates the holster's interface to thebattery for both supplying charge power and for SMBus communication.

Referring also to FIG. 2, one embodiment of a holster 12 and an externalbattery 14 is shown. Referring also to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, acharger 18 may accommodate one or more external batteries 14, 16. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 3, the charger 18 accommodates two externalbatteries 14, 16.

In some embodiments, the external battery charger 18 may be designed tocharge up to two external batteries 14, 16 simultaneously. In someembodiments, for ease of use, the external batteries 14, 16 may beloaded vertically—like a toaster—relying on the battery's weight, insome embodiments, to create sufficient force to connect with theelectrical contacts. In some embodiments, the external batteries 14, 16may include a keying feature 10, i.e., they may be keyed, to preventbeing inserted backwards. In some embodiments, each charger bay 20, 22may have a dedicated charge circuit; both of which, in some embodiments,may be overseen by a microcontroller with custom software.

In some embodiments, bulk power may be supplied to the battery charger18 by an off-the-shelf medical-grade power supply that produces 24 VDC.In some embodiments, this power may be the AC adapter described above,i.e., the same power supply that may be used to provide charge power tothe device.

In some embodiments, the external battery charger 18 is a Level 3charger by the definitions of the Smart Battery System specification.Thus, the charger's 18 microcontroller acts as the SMBus master, andqueries each battery for its desired charging current and terminalcharging voltage. The microcontroller forwards this information to thecharge circuits. The microcontroller may provide the full requestedcharge power, or limit one or both batteries to avoid exceeding therating of the power supply. Through the SMBus interface, the charger 18may also be able to query the external batteries' 14, 16 status and usethis information to determine if a fault has occurred.

The interactions among the external batteries 14, 16, the chargecircuits, and the microcontroller are complex. In general, the softwareand hardware are architected to disable power to the charging circuitsby default. In some embodiments, only when a number of predeterminedconditions are met (for example, but not limited to, one or more of thefollowing: charge voltage in acceptable range, battery is present andcommunicating, battery reports no faults, requested charge current inacceptable range, etc.) will charge power be applied.

Referring now also to FIG. 4, a system block diagram of one embodimentof the battery system for a device is shown. As discussed above, in someembodiments, various embodiments of the battery system may be used witha prosthetic device, including, but not limited to, a prosthetic arm.However, in various embodiments, the various embodiments of the batterysystem may be used with any device requiring power. For purposes ofillustration only, some embodiments of the system are described withreference to a prosthetic arm. However, this is for descriptive purposesonly and it should be understood that the system is not limited to usewith a prosthetic arm. In various other embodiments, the componentsdescribed below with reference to a prosthetic arm, e.g., “shoulder ACMstack”, may be different where the system is used in conjunction with adevice other than a prosthetic arm device.

Referring now also to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, diagrams of two embodiments ofthe internal battery interface are shown. In some embodiments, where thesystem includes an internal battery and at least one external battery,the internal battery connects to a custom circuit board called theinternal battery interface. This board contains a microcontroller thattalks e.g. on a CAN bus as a slave, to a master controller. The boardalso has a charging circuit for the internal battery. The chargingcircuit is powered, in some embodiments, from either an external 24 VDCpower source (like from an AC adapter) or from the system power bus(getting power from the external battery). Because in some embodimentsthe 24 VDC AC adapter interface connector may be a common barrelconnector, to reduce and/or eliminate the possibility that a user mightconnect the wrong voltage AC adapter and to protect against the wrongvoltage or polarity AC adapter from affecting the internal batteryinterface electronics, in some embodiments, circuitry may beincorporated into the internal battery interface board to tolerate arange of AC adapter input voltages, for example, including, but notlimited to, a range from −36 VDC to +36 VDC. In various otherembodiments, this range may be different. In some embodiments, thevoltage range may be determined by conducting a search of commonlyavailable AC adapters with similar output connectors.

In some embodiments, the internal battery interface circuitry mayinclude a soft power interface controller. In some embodiments, thiscontroller monitors the power on/off button, and helps to control systempower. In some embodiments, the microcontroller also participates inthis functionality; however the soft power controller may, in someembodiments, independently shut off the system power if themicrocontroller fails to respond to power off requests.

Referring now also to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, diagrams of two embodiments ofthe external battery interface with a holster are shown.

In some embodiments, the external battery connects to another customcircuit board in the external battery holster, which is described inmore detail below. In some embodiments, the schematic for the externalbattery holster board may be similar to the schematic of the internalbattery interface board. In some embodiments, the schematic for theexternal battery holster board may be different from the internalbattery interface board. In some embodiments, the external batteryholster contains a microcontroller that talks, e.g. on a CAN bus as aslave, to the master controller, and it talks to the internal batteryover a SMBus.

In some embodiments, the external battery interface circuitry includes asoft power interface controller. In some embodiments, this controllermonitors the power on/off button, and helps to control system power. Aswith the internal battery interface board, in some embodiments, themicrocontroller may also play a part in this functionality, however thesoft power controller may independently shut off the system power shouldthe microcontroller fail to respond to one or more power off requests.In some embodiments, the soft power controller in the holster 12 is onlyinstalled when there is a pushbutton in the holster 12.

Referring now also to FIG. 7, a system schematic of one embodiment ofthe system is shown. In this embodiment, the system includes an internalbattery and at least one external battery. Again, referring to aprosthetic arm for illustration purposes, inside the prosthetic forearm,in some embodiments, an internal battery circuit board is located nextto the internal battery. The internal battery circuit board includes amicrocontroller that communicates with the internal battery includingcommunications related to the charge of the internal battery. Inaddition, in some embodiments, the microcontroller communicates with theprosthetic arm systems communication bus (CAN Bus) which communicateswith the master controller. The master controller, therefore, in variousembodiments, receives information about the battery, which may include,but is not limited to, the amount of charge in the battery. The mastercontroller can make decisions regarding when to charge the internalbattery and also, when to switch between the external battery and theinternal battery for powering the device, e.g., the prosthetic arm. Theexternal battery also has an interface board with a microcontroller thatcommunicates to the external battery and the arm system' scommunications bus (CAN bus), which communicates with the mastercontroller. In some embodiments, a cable connects the external batteryto the arm/device system. The power from the external battery may alsopower the arm/device.

In some embodiments, the internal battery circuit board includes a smartcharger circuit that may either accept input power from the AC adapteror from the arm system power bus, thus charging the internal batteryfrom the external battery. In some embodiments, the power from the powerbus (which comes from the external battery) is boosted to a highervoltage for input to the smart charger.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of one embodiment of the external battery interface;and FIG. 9 is a diagram of one embodiment of the external battery andinternal battery system.

The following are various methods that may be applied by the system todetermine where to take power from, e.g., which battery to take powerfrom, to power the device. These are not limiting factors andadditional/alternative factors may be used in various embodiments. Insome embodiments, one or more of the following are not used.

In some embodiments, whenever there is an external battery connected tothe system, the master controller decides that the external batterypowers the bus and therefore, disconnects the internal battery from thepower bus.

In some embodiments, when the external battery remaining capacity goesbelow a preset/predetermined/preprogrammed threshold, the mastercontroller may automatically command the internal battery to switch topower the bus.

In some embodiments, alerts and warnings may be displayed to the user(for example, using a user interface on the device) if the installedbattery, i.e., the combined remaining capacity of all installedbatteries, is below a preset/predetermined/preprogrammed threshold.Thus, in various embodiments, to determine the combined capacity/totalcapacity of all installed batteries, the total capacity of all internalbatteries, and any external battery connected to the system, is used.

In some embodiments, where there is an internal battery and the devicesystem first powers on, the system may always be initially powered bythe internal battery until the master controller determines how manybatteries are connected, for example, whether there is an externalbattery present.

In some embodiments, once the device power is turned on, the maincomputer/master controller determines whether there is an externalbattery present. If there is an external battery present, but if it isnot connected, the master controller will allow the internal battery topower the bus.

However, in some embodiments, once the master controller determines thatthere is an external battery present, the master controller determinesif the external battery has enough capacity, i.e., the external batterycapacity exceeds a predetermine/preset/preprogrammed threshold, and ifso, connects the external battery to the power bus and disconnects theinternal battery from the power bus.

In some embodiments, the interface board near the internal battery maymonitor the status of that internal battery to determine whether theinternal battery needs to be charged, i.e., whether the capacity of theinternal battery is less than a preset/preprogrammed/predeterminedthreshold. When an external battery is present and has greater than apreset/predetermined/preprogrammed threshold of remaining capacity,then, in some embodiments, the interface board may begin charging theinternal battery using the external battery.

In some embodiments, connecting the AC adapter to the device takespriority over charging the internal battery from the external battery.This may be beneficial for many reasons, including, but not limited to,preserving the power that is in the external battery.

In some embodiments, the external battery, which, in some embodiments isalso rechargeable, may be required to be removed/disconnected from thedevice and/or from the holster to be charged. Thus, in some embodiments,the external batteries will not recharge if connected to the device/arm.

As described above, some embodiments of the system include an externalbattery holster 12. In these embodiments, the external battery holster12 may include contacts that allow the external battery 14 to beunclipped from the holster 12. In some embodiments, the holster 12 mayhave a microcontroller, in some embodiments having a microcontroller,when the external battery 14 is taken off the holster 12 or is notconnected to the holster 12, the device/system may determine that theholster 12 is still connected but that the external battery 14 is nolonger connected to the holster 12. In some embodiments, where thedevice previously determined that two batteries, an internal and anexternal, are connected, the device can determine that the externalbattery 14 has been disconnected. In some embodiments, when the externalbattery 14 is disconnected from the holster 12 the device/arm mayautomatically switch over to use the internal battery to power thedevice/arm. In some embodiments, the system may determine that theexternal battery 14 is disconnected by monitoring the falling voltage.

In some embodiments, when the system first turns on, the circuit in theinterface circuit closes and powers the bus. Then the master controllersees the external battery 14 and turns the holster 12 on and theinterface circuit off and then the external battery 14 powers the bus.

In some embodiments, when the external battery 14 is disconnected fromthe holster 12, the external battery 14 may reach apreset/predetermined/preprogrammed hot swap “threshold voltage” and thesystem may then turn on the internal battery interface circuit and turnoff the holster 12/external battery interface circuit.

Next, in some embodiments, if a new, for example, charged externalbattery is inserted into the holster 12, the holster 12 interface knowsthat an external battery has been connected to the system, and, in someembodiments, the master computer then turns the holster 12/externalinterface circuit on and the internal battery interface circuit off.

Thus, in some embodiments, the system includes a method and system for“hot swapping” a battery/power source that is powering a device. In someembodiments, for example, having a device including at least oneinternal battery and two external batteries, where the device is poweredby the external battery and the system determines that the externalbattery becomes disconnected, the system may continue regular operationby turning the external interface circuit off and the internal interfacecircuit on, thereby continuously powering the device. Then, when, forexample, the external battery is connected again to the system/device,the system recognizes that the external battery is again connected andturns the internal interface circuit off and the external interfacecircuit on, thereby the device is powered again by the external battery.

In some embodiments, this method may be used to “hot swap” a firstexternal battery for a second external battery. In some embodimentsthese may be beneficial for changing external batteries when oneexternal battery's charge has depleted and a second external battery ismore charged than the first. For example, in some embodiments, where thefirst external battery has been powering the device for a thresholdperiod of time which may be close to the maximum use, a user may hotswap the first external battery for a second external battery which maybe, in some embodiments, fully charged. This may be beneficial forcontinuously powering the device without interruption.

In some embodiments, for example, in embodiments where the system isused with a medical device, for example, a prosthetic device, which mayinclude a prosthetic arm, the system allows for functionality of thedevice/arm using an internal battery, which may be supplemented by anexternal battery. Therefore, for example, where a user may bedressing/undressing, using the internal battery during this time allowsfor arm functionality without being tethered to an external battery by acable. The tethering and/or cable may make tasks, for example,dressing/undressing, more difficult. However, this system allows for useof an external battery, which may have longer use per charge, and also,for a hot swap of the external battery. The system also includes theability to recharge the internal battery using the external batterywhich provides for a system of assuring the user that the internalbattery will be charged when next needed, for example, if morning tasksdepleted the internal battery charge by 75%, once connected to theexternal battery, for example, during the daytime hours, the internalbattery will be recharged to 100% from the external battery. Then, forevening tasks, for example, which may include those tasks that are moreconvenient to accomplish without a tether to an external battery, theinternal battery will be available/charged. This system is advantageousfor many reasons, including, but not limited to, providing ease ofrecharging the internal battery, continuous use of the device even whileswapping power sources, and allowing for use of the device/arm for taskswhere being tethered or having cables may inhibit/make difficult one'sability to complete the desired tasks efficiently and/or with ease. Invarious embodiments, the AC adapter may be used, for example, overnight,to charge the internal battery while the charger may be used to chargethe one or more external batteries.

In various embodiments, the user interface on the device may indicate tothe user the charge status of the one or more batteries, i.e., internaland/or external battery, connected to the device/arm. For example, insome embodiments, the wrist display may indicate the total amount ofremaining capacity which is calculated based on the total batteriesconnected to the system, e.g., in some embodiments, 1 battery or 2batteries. Therefore, in these embodiments, if 2 batteries are connectedto the system, the battery indicator adds the total capacity of bothbatteries and determines the remaining capacity. Thus, for example, ifno external battery was connected to the device, and the internalbattery is 100% charged, the user interface may indicate that the chargeis 100%. However, if an external battery is then connected to thesystem, and it is not itself 100% charged, the user interface batteryindicator may indicate less than 100%, taking into consideration theamount of charge remaining on both batteries. Thus, this may beadvantageous for many reasons, including, but not limited to, the systemreporting an accurate remaining capacity to the user taking intoconsideration all the batteries connected to the device.

Although this system has been described with respect to prostheticdevices, in some embodiments, the system may be used in any deviceincluding, but not limited to, those devices where the internalrechargeable battery is not user replaceable or where the internalrechargeable battery is difficult to replace and/or remove to recharge.In some embodiments, the system may be used on any device that is aportable continuous duty system where it is desirable that the devicecontinuously be powered on to perform one or more tasks. In someembodiments, the system may be used with a medical device.

In various embodiments, the hot swap described above may be used once anexternal battery is disconnected and an AC adapter is connected. Thus,once the system determines that the external battery is disconnected,the system switches to using the internal battery. Following, once theAC adapter is connected to the device, the system switches to using theAC adapter to charge the internal battery. Also, where the AC adapter iscurrently connected and is then disconnected and an external battery isconnected, the internal battery will be charged from the externalbattery.

The system may be used in many devices including, but not limited to,infusion pumps, monitoring device and other device having a high dutycycle. The various embodiments of the systems includes one or more powersources, which may include one or more, but not limited to, thefollowing: AC adapter, rechargeable battery internal to the device,rechargeable battery external to the device, and where one of thesepower sources is powering the device, another of these power sources maybe connected to the device and henceforth power the device.Additionally, one or more of the power sources may recharge one or moreof the other power sources, for example, an external battery mayrecharge an internal battery and/or an AC adapter may recharge aninternal battery. In some embodiments, while the device is currently inuse and powered by an external device, the external device may alsoprovide charge to an internal battery to recharge the internal battery.

Thus, in some embodiments of the system, the external battery not onlyruns the device, but also, recharges the internal battery at the sametime, and can swap out the external battery for with a second externalbattery when the first external battery's charge is depleted. All ofthese may be accomplished while the device is fully powered in acontinuous, uninterrupted manner.

In various embodiments, the system may be advantageously used in deviceswhere it may be beneficial for the device not to be plugged in, and/ornot be tethered, for example, but not limited to, laptops and/orsurgical devices.

In some embodiments the system may be advantageous in devices whereremoving the internal battery may interrupt the ongoing use of thedevice and/or trigger a start up process which would interrupt theperformance of a device.

In some embodiments, the system may include methods for hot swapping twoor more batteries that may be user accessible. For example, the systemmay include a first battery and a second battery. The first battery maybe 100% charged and the second battery may be 50% charged, or in variousembodiments, the first battery may be more charged than the second. Thefirst battery may charge the second battery while the first batterypowers a device. Thus, in some embodiments, a first battery may serve asa charger battery and a second battery may serve as a charged battery.In some embodiments, once the first battery/charger battery is depletedof its charge to a preset/threshold/predetermined/preprogrammed level,the second battery/charged battery may be swapped out automatically suchthat the second battery/charged battery is now running the device andfirst battery/charger battery is being recharged by the second battery.Thus, the first battery and the second battery swap tasks. Thus, in someembodiments, this method provides that one battery is always morecharged than a second battery and therefore, the device may becontinuously powered without interruption and/or without restartingand/or starting up processes.

In some embodiments, the various hot swap methods may include methodsfor increasing the life of the battery by not exceeding apreset/predetermined minimum charge, e.g., 50%. In some embodiments, thesystem may favor maintaining the internal battery at a charge as high aspossible.

While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it isto be understood by those skilled in the art that this description ismade only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope ofthe invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope ofthe present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown anddescribed herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinaryskill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling the powering of a devicehaving an internal battery in the device, an external battery outsideand connected to the device, and a power source outside of the device,the method comprising: connecting only one of the internal battery andthe external battery to directly power the device; measuring thecapacity of the internal battery; determining if the capacity of theinternal battery is below a predetermined threshold; and when theinternal battery is below the predetermined threshold, determining tocharge the internal battery with one of the power source and theexternal battery.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:determining if the external battery has been disconnected from aholster; and switching to use the internal battery to power the device.3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining if an externalbattery is connected to the system; if an external battery is connectedto the system, connecting the external battery to power the device; anddisconnecting the internal battery from powering the device.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising: measuring remaining capacity ofthe external battery; determining if the remaining capacity of theexternal battery is below a predetermined threshold; disconnecting theexternal battery from powering the device; and connecting the internalbattery to power the device.
 5. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: powering the device using the external battery;disconnecting the external battery from powering the device; connectingthe internal battery to power the device; connecting the external powersource to the device; charging the internal battery using the externalpower source; disconnecting the external power source from the device;connecting the external battery to the device; and charge the internalbattery using the external battery.
 6. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: powering the device using the external battery;disconnecting the external battery from powering the device; connectingthe internal battery to power the device; connecting the external powersource to the device; and charging the internal battery using theexternal power source.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the externalbattery is the first external battery, method further comprising:powering the device using the first external battery; disconnecting thefirst external battery from powering the device; connecting the internalbattery to power the device; connecting a second external battery to thedevice; disconnect the internal battery from powering the device; andconnecting the second external battery to power the device.
 8. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising: determining the capacity of theexternal battery; determining whether the internal battery capacity isless than the predetermined threshold; and if the internal batterycapacity is less than the predetermined threshold, and the externalbattery capacity if above a predetermined threshold for the externalbattery, charging the internal battery using the external battery. 9.The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining if the externalbattery is connected to the device; if the external battery is notconnected to the device, allowing the internal battery to power thedevice; if the external battery is connected to the device; determiningthe capacity of the external battery; if the capacity of the externalbattery exceeds a predetermined threshold, disconnecting the internalbattery from powering the device; and connecting the external battery topower the device.
 10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:determining if the external battery is connected to the device; if notthe external battery is not connected to the device, allowing theinternal battery to power the device; if the external battery isconnected to the device, disconnecting the internal battery frompowering the device; and connecting the external battery to power thedevice.
 11. A method for powering a device having one internal batterylocated in the device, one external battery connected to the device, andan external power source, the method comprising: connecting only one ofthe internal battery or the external battery to power the device;determining when the capacity of the internal battery is below apredetermined threshold; determining whether to charge the internalbattery using the power source or from the external battery; determiningthe external battery has been disconnected from a holster; disconnectingthe external battery from powering the device; and connecting theinternal battery to power the device.